David J. Callahan, a principal with Rolling Hills Estates Realty Trust and chief executive officer of Palmer Paving, wrote to the selectboard earlier this month to ask that it include his gaming partner in discussions with the consultant.

"The state's casino legislation permits the gaming applicant to provide reasonable costs related to legal, financial and other professional services required by the town for the negotiation and execution of a host community agreement. We believe that having the developer at your table to consider your options will be critical to helping ensure that the board, casino committee, department heads and town residents all have the resources they need to make an informed decision going forward," Callahan wrote.

To that end, Dennis M. Murphy, a Callahan representative, attended the Tuesday meeting, and said he wasn't suggesting that his group has any role in the selection of a consultant, but said it might be a worthwhile discussion to have their representatives talk about their experiences in other communities.

Selectman Thomas C. Marino said casino projects are not "new," and noted that there is a lot of data available already. The town also has a Casino Study Committee, and Panaccione and selectmen's assistant Carol M. DelNegro have served on the Western Massachusetts Casino Task Force for three years.

Selectman Stephen Fleshman was absent.

After the meeting, Panaccione said that most of the residents reaching out to her are anti-casino. She said they are saying they like the rural town as it is, and that the land should remain as open space. She said they also question the monetary promises, and the $6 million extra in property taxes that Callahan said the project would generate.

At last week's press conference, Callahan and MGM representatives said the project would have minimal impacts on the town, as main access would only be from the Massachusetts Turnpike, and said it would create 3,000 permanent jobs.
MGM Resorts is the latest company vying for the lone casino license in Western Massachusetts.